Lionel Messi Is Hoping To Stay At Barcelona In January

 

Lionel Messi will be free to leave Barcelona as a free agent by the January transfer window and will also be open to discuss a new contract with the club should he choose to remain amidst interests from Europe's top-flight clubs.

The Argentine striker had a turbulent summer at the club after he wanted out despite having a season left in his contract. The ambitious move to leave Nou Camp failed because his buyout clause was understood to still be in effect due to the delay caused the season by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Whilst expectations might be that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner teased about staying at Barcelona, telling a Spanish TV station La Sexta recently that getting a new contract is not yet "crystal clear" to him, however, he remained committed to the team. 

"Nothing will be crystal clear before the end of the year," he told La Sexta. "I'll wait until the season is over. What matters now is thinking about the team, finishing the year well, and not being distracted by other things."

Messi's frustration at Nou Camp reached its peak when they were eliminated from the Champions League in the semi-finals by Bayern Munich after losing the La Liga title race to their rivals Real Madrid. 

He continued, "I'm not thinking about how the year will end. As of today, it wouldn't be wise for me to say what I'm going to do because I don't know."